Kefir contains more probiotics than any yogurt. With up to 61 different strains of microbes, it can be an excellent source of probiotics.
While yogurt may help provide some level of digestive support and can be a delicious addition to any diet, it simply can't compete with the best probiotic supplements for women, men, and children.
If you are looking to boost your protein intake or prefer a thicker yogurt, Greek yogurt is a great option, however, regular yogurt is equally as nutrient-dense and rich in probiotics.
While all yogurts have live and active cultures, not all have probiotic strains that provide specific health benefits such as supporting gut health and contributing to the maintenance of a balanced gut microbiota.
If you do want to eat regular yogurt for gut health, make sure you're looking for a brand that has the lowest amount of added sugar—aim for less than 10 grams per cup. Greek and Icelandic yogurts are still great options as they do provide some probiotics along with a hearty dose of protein.
Best Probiotic Yogurt in Australia
Danone Activia is an excellent choice for those with easily upset stomachs and includes the most probiotics out of all the yoghurts I've analysed. Vaalia is another fantastic option, containing three different probiotics in every 150g serving.
Kefir contains more probiotics than any yogurt. With up to 61 different strains of microbes, it can be an excellent source of probiotics.
Chobani® Probiotic yogurt contains billions of probiotics and a unique combination of scientifically confirmed probiotic strains, including LGG®, made with digestive health and immune systems in mind.
Vanessa Lee reports on a close look by scientists at the dose of probiotics in yogurt and whether it's beneficial to consumers. Study finds 2 to 25 servings of yogurt per day would need to be consumed to offer any health benefits.
Probiotics in yogurt
Some brands include a Live & Active Cultures (LAC) seal from the International Dairy Foods Association to verify probiotic content. Otherwise, look for the words "live and active cultures" on the label. (Also, many fruit or sweetened varieties have too much sugar, so check labels for that, too.)
While it's certainly worthwhile to eat yogurt as a healthy snack and a good source of protein, you're much better off getting your daily dose of probiotics from a quality supplement.
Although one serving a day of yogurt does not likely provide enough probiotics, or variety of probiotic strains, to obtain the health benefits shown in clinical research, a good quality yogurt can offer essential nutrients beyond probiotics. Yogurt is a source of protein, calcium and other minerals.
The most common fermented foods that naturally contain probiotics, or have probiotics added to them, include yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, kimchi, sourdough bread and some cheeses.
May support gut health
Research suggests that eating yogurt regularly may help support a healthy digestive system by increasing bacterial diversity in the guts of some people ( 12 ).
Greek style yogurt can be useful for those who are vegetarian thanks to its high levels of additional protein. Greek style yogurt also contains probiotics to keep the gut and digestive system working to a high standard.
“The best time to take a probiotic is on an empty stomach,” Dr. Wallman says. For most people, that means taking a probiotic first thing in the morning (at least an hour before a meal, Dr. Wallman advises), or right before you go to sleep.
Do all Yoplait yoghurts contain probiotics? All Yoplait yoghurts are made with live cultures! Our Yoplait Petit Miam and Yoplait Balance products also contain added probiotics. All Yoplait yoghurts naturally contain essential nutrients such as calcium.
Chobani is a Greek-style yogurt brand. This yogurt contains live and active cultures, including L. acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Not only is this yogurt a great source of probiotics, but it is also gluten-free, kosher-certified, and contains no genetically modified organisms (GMO).
Chobani Non-Fat
The healthiest Greek yogurt on our list is this nonfat option from Chobani, which has just 90 calories per serving, a scant four grams of sugar per serving, and a decent dose of protein given how low all of its other stats are.
While both Yakult and yogurt are fermented dairy products, Yakult is considered to be far much better than yogurt. The main reason is that Yakult contains a different probiotic strain than yogurt, which is acid-resistant and thus alive once it reaches the intestines, where it can confer its health benefits.
The biggest nutritional difference between the two is that kefir contains more probiotics than yogurt. While yogurt also contains some probiotics, kefir is more potent. If you are looking to improve digestion or gut health, kefir is the better choice.